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Man arrested for molesting standard IV boy

TNN | Updated: Nov 28, 2018, 12:35 IST

The accused Devang Patel in custody on Tuesday

VADODARA: A boy studying in class IV in a school near Bagikhana was sexually harassed by a man living in the area on Tuesday morning. Accused Devang Patel was nabbed from outside the school after cops and the boy’s father kept a watch. The boy’s father, who works as a photographer, told police that his nine-year-old son had complained in September that Patel tried to pull him away when he was waiting for his van near the school’s gate. The boy said that the accused held his hand and asked his name. Later he tried to lure him to go with him by promising him a chocolate. When the boy refused, Patel tried to pull him, but he managed to loosen the grip and escaped inside the school. The boy’s father and his friends kept a watch outside the school for next five days, but Patel did not turn up. A week later, Patel again started harassing the boy and lured him with chocolate to come with him. But the boy again managed to escape inside the school compound. He complained to his father and they again kept an unsuccessful watch outside the school. When the boy’s school resumed after Diwali vacation, Patel harassed the boy in a similar way on November 20 following which his father gave an application at Navapura police station to nab the accused. The boy’s father alleged that Patel held his son’s hand and even touched his private parts. On Tuesday morning when policemen, the boy’s father and his friends were in a watch outside the school, Patel approached the boy again.

Policemen and the boy’s father reached there and nabbed Patel. A case of violation of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against Patel. According to police, Patel lives alone in Rajdeep Society near Polo Ground. A police official said that in the past he thrashed his parents and wife before throwing them out of the house.